Wed 12 May 2010
New Video: Alicia Keys “Unthinkable (I’m Ready)” (Updated)
Posted by Mikey Fresh under for fashion-hounds and obsessive consumers , new music , old music , things I like , videos[58] Comments
Mikey: Here are the visuals for Alicia Keys’ new video “Unthinkable (I’m Ready)” from her latest album, The Element Of Freedom, in stores now.
MissInfo: One of my favorite songs off that album. (Along with “Wait Till They See You Smile”)…but since I’m a dingbat (sometimes), I spent the first 50 listens thinking that Alicia was saying “I was wondering, maybe, could I make you A baby.” Yup….that made the song so much more juicy and scandalous in light of her love triangle. But I was wrong, lol.
BONUS: Seems that Alicia has also remade Blondie’s “Rapture” for the upcoming Sex and the City 2 movie soundtrack….hmm…listen after the jump
(spotted via the Vulture)
MissInfo: I do like AKeys’ rap at the end though, kinda cute: “…because I’m so Carrie and my man’s so Biiiggggggg“
May 12th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Wow
I’m not sure i like the way the video was shot (camera angles, saturation etc) but the story,concept and visual take this already amazing song to another level IMO its not just a song about desire its so much more.
Alicia, Drake thank you.
and dude from one tree hill u aight i guess.
U.K. All Day
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 7:53 am
this is fuck shit making race videos in 2010 what a joke dosent she know the we all moved on i mean the president is black get on with the times
EPIC FAIL
Reply
super producer binary star Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
LOL@ white people wanting to be even stevens because the president is half-black.
Choosing to forget or disregard history = EPIC FAIL
Reply
You Di*Khead Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Exactly wat history do you want to preserve?? Hmm? Do you see Mexicans and the Irish chatting bollucks bout their great-great ancestors? No. Why? Because if you want to be treated as an individual, as a unique being apart from a race you did not choose then you need to grow above certain arguments. Furthermore to survive in a capitalist world, you need to move wiith that world, if you wont move with the world, living the life that our ancestors worked so damn hard to give us, then your failure is the only epic fail around this gaff. You feel so passionately about it, but your ignorance is far from what people who fighted to get a “half black” president had in mind.
Grow up you dumb sh*t. And dont breed coz it’s shameful to have ppl like u in da world.
Reply
Tyler Reply:
May 30th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
A history that is never seen is schools there are no notes of any black contributors other than MLK or Rosa Parks those are the only two people know. And I dont know which mexicans you are talking to but they are a people VERY PROUD of their ancestors. I hope you don’t breed because you are so ignorant already those shit bastards won’t have a chance. Why should I want to be apart from my race? Why can’t I be proud of it? And as long as people EVERYWHERE on the intenet bash disrespect and fight at every turn against the half-black president because he’s half black is voids the election.
JstSaying Reply:
March 30th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
kind of a year late, but thats the point to see how far we’ve come and how back then it was UNTHINKABLE; Hints the title UNTHINKABLE!
Reply
FYI Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Even in this year that we’re in, there are still people out there who belive segragation and even slavery is still right. So STOP freakin baggin on this video. if you don’t like it or care about it. GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!!
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Just because we have a black pres doesn’t mean race problems magically went away. We still have these issues.Great video Ms. Keys.
Reply
whiteboylover:) Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 7:19 am
Interacail relationships are the best!!!!!! eespecially the white man and black woman ones!!!!!!!
Im the product of an interacial relationship:)!!!
A beautiful caramel skinned baby:) But all colors are beautiful:)!!
Reply
FYI Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
TOTAL AGREEMENT HERE!!
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Race will always be a factor in our society. As much as we attempt to eliminate it its still an issue. Race relations is an issue in the black community (dark/light) in the hispanic community even in the white community. Its just easier to ignore by saying there are no race issues. There are some of us that race does not bother but not all of us have grown that much. Beautiful video for a subject that is still relevant.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 9:02 am
@wat da fuck: your comment only reinforces my initial assumption of your inferior intellect when I saw your ‘name’. If you really think the fact that an African-American currently serves as your president erases the the racial tension in the US even today, you’re very mistaken.
&given your low mental capacity, what gives you the merit to critically assess this video as “EPIC FAIL”.
Please go and play in Traffic immediately as the world does not deserve the continuity of your bloodline. Thanks
Reply
Pete from Harlem Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I concur,wholeheartedly. Obviously it’s still VERY relevant to her as she is a bi-racial woman who feels she shouldn’t have to chose or even deny any part of herself by favoring one ancestry over another. I understand, people just want to know whom do you identify with, not just to keep you from being blind to the fact that racism still exists on all sides, but as a defensive mechanism for themselves in trusting someone who looks the same.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hot video … im like you info i thought she was saying i wanna make you a baby lol … i love this song this is the hottest song on her album … im shock they didnt put drake in it but thats good cuz hes in everythign anyway and plus all he did was adlib on the song …. bout time these artist are making videos thats actually has some substance in it …
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 10:01 am
That Rapture remake is ok, it beats the hell out of the Lisa Lisa remake that cheetah girl did.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 11:37 am
This is absolutely my favorite song out right now. At first I wasn’t sold on this being a period piece, but I’m glad it transcends several decades. Very nice concept.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 11:47 am
ehh ok so ur an actress. what happened to the put it in a love song video????
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Ive Been Wondering Chad Michael Murray’s Been Hiding Since He Left One Tree Hill…Video Concept Is Tight…
Reply
Eddie Cheeba Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
You know his name??????????????
LMFAO!!!
Reply
Marvin Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Why not, if you watched one tree hill u would most likely know his name
Reply
Eddie Cheeba Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
My point exactly…..
You 2 watch it together???
SMH.
May 12th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
i like the song,i think alicia keys knows how to make good music
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I love this song, but the video want play for me. Its stopping at the 1:25 mark.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
honestly, fuck this video. On the real, as a brotha, I feel this is the type of video we simply dont need.
First of all, I like the track. It’s probably the best Alicia Keys single from her new album. When I heard the track, I always thought it was about taking relationships to the next level (probably through sex). Know what I mean? Like that period when you get jitters about whether to take a relationship you have with someone to the next level. And I fucks with that. I think that’s a great theme.
So then I watch the video to find out its about some interracial shit? Seriously?
Curious black woman wants to date ‘interesting’ white guy, but angry ignorant uncultured tough black man starts a fight.
This stereotypical bullshit has to stop. If you’re going to address the interracial theme, do it fairly for both parties. because honestly, you’re messing with a painful history right there.
The black woman might genuinely want to date the white guy, which is all good. Nothing wrong with that. The black guy might genuinely be pissed at that. Show/demonstrate what some of the reasons might be. yeah, some of it may be based in ignorance, and some may be based on history/experience.
I’m not against interracial relationships or anything like that. Love is love. But I think the media is just not fair in portraying positive black male/black female relationships. Like somehow us black men are the backward, racist ones harboring hate.
I dunno man. This whole thing just doesn’t sit right with me. If it were just this video, then I wouldn’t say anything. But it seems to be a recurring scenario that real, good black men are never portrayed.
Reply
Orange Star Happy Hunting Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I honestly understood all of that, I wouldn’t say good black men are never portrayed, just not nearly enough, and/or healthy black relationhips. I feel you on that!
Reply
Uptop Don Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Ayo but that’s just it guy…they indeed did show both sides to this black/white love shit! U clearly see them showing how ignorant the guy’s side of town is with black people! Wtf??? And not for nothing by the looks of it (as in the way u talk about interracial relationships)…YOU coulda played the uncultured tough stereotypical angry black man fam!
Reply
Uptop Don Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Although I must admit …I don’t know HOW I’d react had my sister brought home a white dude! But then again I’d be in no position to hate because I would and HAVE did me with numerous white girls! What I don’t know is if I’d MARRY outside my race…that is the thing I’m still unsure of at the moment, far as this whole topic goes! O n BTW A Keys looks excellent as usual…shout out to Swizzy! For anyone who hates on her n Swizzy’s union, that’s my only words of advice…”YOU CANT BLAME THIS MAN”!!! YOU CANT!..LOOK AT HER!!!…THEN LOOK AT HER TALENT!!!…WHEN YOU GET DONE WITH THAT, LOOK AT HER BANK ACCOUNT! Im ridin’ with son on his decision! Move on Mashonda please
Reply
Tochi Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
lol. you know what? You might be right on that “I’m not good enough” line. Maybe it was the white dude who said it.
If so, that was POOR editing and/or a poor shot. Because honestly, it only makes sense that the black guy would say it. Given the fact that the black guy starts talking first in closeup, the next shot is Alicia Keys walking away with the guys in the background. It just seems by logical extension that the black guy kept talking, especially since the intonations/vocal inflections are so similar. and the white guy is barely in the shot at this point.
But yeah, if it turns out the white dude said it, which seems likely, it does change my perspective on the video quite a bit.
good looking, Don.
Tochi Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Uptop, you’ve missed the point.
I’m trying to say that, at large, positive black relationships are rarely ever shown in media, while an increasing number of interracial relationships seem to be ‘in style’ right now. Like it’s some form of new human unity.
For me, relationship, regardless of who it is with, should be celebrated. If it’s interracial, great. If it’s not, great. If that were the case, then we’d see balance.
But there is clearly an imbalance, whether you want to see it or not.
and this video only adds to that imbalance.
You can take the cheap road and attack me or try and understand what I’m getting at, even if you disagree.
and for the record, the only two people who are portrayed as individuals in this video are Alicia Keys and the white guy. The camera gives them closeups and they share most of the screen time. Which is cool. They’re the ‘lovers/main characters’, so I’m not mad at that. It makes perfect sense.
However, the video does something very interesting when the ‘angry black guy’ utters his comment about not being good enough. Throughout the video before this, he is relegated to the background. There are no closeups on him. When he’s on screen, he’s with other black people. He is just ‘black man’. There isn’t any other dimension to him.
Then he makes his “I’m not good enough” comment. So it’s like he’s speaking for all black men now? Because that’s what it implies.
Why did he even have a speaking role? It’s not like he was given the treatment of a character. Why didn’t one of the white guys speak up? Or one of the black women there? Why those words in particular? and when he spoke, it was not of depth and understanding, but a position of ignorant, reactionary anger to the black female, Alicia.
Again, if this type of ‘racial conflict’ was alluded to or mentioned in the original song, obviously we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But it’s what Alicia Keys’ (probably white) video director came up with. Usually it’s the directors who pitch video concepts to the artists.
This is the nature of television/film. It is subversive. You’ve gotta think about what you’re watching.
Please think before you reply.
Reply
Uptop Don Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Aye I only saw the vid earlier today…and cannot view it @ the moment from my phone to double check on what I’m about to say…but yo view the vid again…I THINK it’s the whiteboy who says “im not good enough” (pay attention to his hands being up as he’s saying it n all that)…I’m almost positive! In fact it would make no logical sense for “her brother” to be saying that in this scene! Now if so… & I aint even tryna be a dick but that’s half your beef with this vid…n thus that whole half would have to be cancelled out! Period!…although I see some of your points but I do not agree at all. This vid is so true to life in every character — its dead on! This is how most of these relationships play out! It could’ve just been another silhouette vid with her n some black dude with curtains and beds in the background but they decided to put some time n thought in to it and make it a mini movie! LOVE IT! …now watch the vid again…then think before YOU reply fam’! jus sayin
Uptop Don Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
yea thats about one thing i could agree with on that – the shot was a little off on it! thats what made me rewind it ealier when i peeped it, cuz i’m like why would the black dude say that after saying “im her brother”…unless he wanted to fuck his gorgeous sister (j/k) lol??? but once i saw the guy’s hand/arm movement and just thinking logically, it was like yea the white guy HAD TO HAVE said it!
not for nothing, kinda off topic but still on topic, becuz he had a hand in this song, Info…did you catch those asshole comments Drake made about online bloggers/posters in some mag? this n!gga bitin’ a hand that TRULY fed him!he was tryna make it look like he n his circle way too cool to do that shit! n!gga its those people you shittin on that MADE YOU TOO COOL! i didn’t know shit about him without the web — his shit wasn’t in the streets like that! some retarded, stupid shit to say…only thing more stupid is young horny girls who wont feel slighted by a diss that can most certainly be directed to them to…album will still do tremendous numbers! but son is a dick! n by the way dont make it look like anyone who posts an opinion is some sort of nerd b, ’specailly when we all see how u used to be in those throwback clips on worldstar foh! better appreciate it! good or bad bruh! (anyway thought itda be kind of ill for you to post that on this site but if not no biggie…said my peace on it lol)
NoNo Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Yeah, It’s definitely the white guy who says “I’m not good enough”. Why would her brother say that? Watch the video again! The scene is very similar to “A Bronx Tale”.
I like the video. You can’t be mad at Alicia for putting a white guy in the video after she had Common, Mos Def, Method Man, Derek Luke as her love interests in the past. She’s not putting him in there, just to put him in there. She’s telling a story.
There’s more than one interpretation to “Unthinkable”. When I first heard the song, it was pretty clear to me she was singing about Swizz Beatz. She could have had a girl be her love interest and that would’ve been “Unthinkable”.
If it was a black man/white woman and she was telling the story of her parents would it be less or more offensive to you?
I wish Drake had at least played her brother in the video since he’s on the song.
Big D Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
yup
the black dude says “that’s my sister” and its defo the white dude who says “what? im not good enough” with his hands outstretched in the background
Marvin Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 12:20 am
lmao he really could have played the the stereotypical racist brother
Reply
super producer binary star Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
“So then I watch the video to find out its about some interracial shit? Seriously? ”
To be fair Alicia Keys herself is “some interracial shit”
And so is the love between me and Miss Info
I get what you’re saying though but keep in mind it’s a short-form video with no dialogue so pretty much all the characters have to be archetypes just to be able to tell the story. At least they tried telling a story with the video instead of just having a dance routine and post effects.
Reply
Miss Info Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
bhahaaa. slick : )
Reply
Always Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I agree that there are negative depictions of black relationships in mainstream media. You still must acknowledge that those depictions aren’t fabricated. No other race of people throws mud at their women the way black men are currently doing.
I understand your point of view, but I have to disagree w/you. It seems that you’ve glossed over the fact that MOST R&B videos are centered around “black love”. And damn near every video dealing with relationships that Alicia Keys has put out, depicts her w/a black love interest.
To be honest with you most black men wouldn’t even care had the woman looked like a damn ghoul. But I see it hits a nerve when the woman dating outside her race falls under the “fine woman” category.
Let’s not forget that Alicia Keys is the product of a biracial union. She’s an intelligent woman and I’m sure the concept of the video was probably hers. Judging by your posting, you may not be as comfortable w/interracial as you’re implying.
Reply
Tochi Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Always, no offense, but some of your statements are part of the problem.
“No other race of people throws mud at their women the way black men are currently doing.”
Really? what are you basing this on?
The reality is that all men are dogs, lovers, respectful, etc. They are no higher or lower in the black community than anywhere else.
Where is the statistic to back up your statement? And if it were true, you gotta ask yourself why this is the case. Why hate the victims of the situation and not the perpetrators of it?
I’ve met a lot of dumb black women but I don’t say “black women don’t respect black men” or “black women love to throw mud at black men” because it’s disrespectful and untrue. There are LOTS of good black women out there, as there are men. There are dumb Asian women, white women, Spanish women, green women, etc and vice versa. It’s about perspective.
The problem, Always, is that people don’t realize we (as black people, and other minorities for that matter) do not have control over how we represent ourselves. For the most part, we implicitly participate in media that derides our existence BECAUSE WE DON’T OWN IT.
We’re so concerned with being in front of the camera that we don’t even realize that the real power of representation comes behind the camera. Who are the directors? The agents? The record executives? The head distributors? These are the DECISION MAKERS.
Chances are, NOT Black. and probably White.
And when you watch videos that blanketly stereotype us, we start thinking: ‘oh yeah, all black men (or the vast majority, which is really as bad as saying all of them) are thugs. All black women are hoes.’ As I mentioned before, the problem with film/television is that it is subversive by nature. Nothing is rarely expressed directly, it’s suggested.
So when certain ideas/roles get put out in the mainstream alot (i.e. tons of the same sort of suggestion), they begin to form into a hegemonic ideal that is so hard to fix.
I have this representation issue with minorities in general. I hate how Asian men (for example) are stereotyped as being kungfu experts or lame ducks who are only into math/science. It’s like they’re too stiff and incapable of love to recognize their exotic female counterparts blah blah bullshit.
The shit’s gotta stop.
I’ll end with this very true statement: “The problem with stereotype is not that it is entirely incorrect, it’s that it fails to tell the whole story. Rather it picks the ‘convenient’ part’, and out of lack of respect, repeats it into public consciousness.”
Reply
NoNo Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 8:52 am
I hope the next time a demeaning video that has women shaking their asses comes out, you come out about the “videos that blanketly (not a word) stereotype us”.
Tyler Reply:
May 30th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
I agree with this wholeheartedly touchi and the scariest part is how quickly people play into those stereotypes and they go on to represent what should be fiction in everyday life.
Samantha Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 6:02 am
I hear you, Tochi, but I will say I’m a white girl dating a black man and from personal experience can say it’s usually the black family who have more issues with the interracial dating than the white family. Not in all cases, but in a fair few. There are reasons for this, obviously and if you look at history instead of ignoring it (not you personally, general you) it’s completely understandable that the black family is going to be more suspicious. My bf’s family was, they love me now but I had to work hard to prove I wasn’t some evil white chick and I genuinly love my bf. I adore his family too by the way, but it wasn’t exactly easy when I first got introduced, it was very “oh…you’re…white” It’s understandable and it’s common sense given the history, BUT, what I will also say I think what AK is trying to say in her video is that at some point, we do have to leave the past in the past, not deny it or ignore that it happened, but accept that the past can’t be changed and leave it where it is to move forward to a better future. Suspicion isn’t a big deal, you just gotta show you are one of the good ones, but at some point, we do have to all stand up and say, ok, we can’t change anything but we can move forward. Date someone because you’re attracted to them and because of who they are, it’s a cliché but we’re all the same underneath it all. We all feel hurt and bleed and cry and laugh, etc.
So I think the video isn’t so much trying to portray the black family as “the tough bad guys” more that it’s trying to show that to move forward, we have to leave the past behind us, meaning it can’t always be about the past and history. The history will always be there but at some point, it should be about the here and now, heading for the future or this will always be an issue and the divisions will always be there. Did that make sense? I’m not trying to make light of anything by the way, just putting my own thoughts across.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
ALICIA KEYS ONE OF THE FEW ARTIST THAT MATTERS
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Alicia has to thank Drake for writing the song of her career. This is easily the best song off her album and then some.
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
what? no guns drawn?
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
*waits for Jay Electronica to sample this rapture remake to make “Step In To The World pt II”, and for hip-hop to subsequently to explode* *dies of old age*
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Video is not as good as the song but still a solid combo!
http://thisiswhyuBROKE dot com
Financial advice +Quality HipHop + Ridicule
Reply
May 12th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I think its cool Alicia wants to make a baby on the side of the road in the forest.
“I was wondering maybe, can I make you a baby..”
If she asked me, I’m ready!
Reply
Miss Info Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 12:47 am
hahahaaa
Reply
th!z Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
“can i make you a baby?” is pure genius. has a real vybz kartel remix feel to it.
Reply
May 13th, 2010 at 7:31 am
fukin ruind da hottest shhht out. how come da white man gets da hottest black chick n neva no fukn hhooddrraatt but da black man gets dem jerryspringer outcast whitgirls who live in da pj’s talkn bout they dont like whitepeeeple. oh an im a racist…i hate everybody..even my niggas
Reply
May 13th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I don’t really care for the song, cause I guess I don;t see going there with someone into me and vice versa is “unthinkable” o_O or maybe I am missing something. *kanye shrug* melodramatics LOL
Reply
May 18th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Hey miss avoid the copyright issues by using the embed code from VEVO
Reply
May 28th, 2010 at 1:13 am
The song is just beautiful. I personally understand what she is trying to say because I too am bi-racial. I’m really light-skinned and have have no problem with dating other races, but I always get looked at funny. The sad part is it’s usualy by my own family.
Reply
whiteboylover:) Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Shout out to all my mulattos!!!! interacail dating is where its at!
Reply
June 27th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
It was definitely chad michael murray, that said “am i not good enough”. duh.
Reply
June 27th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
this video was really good. I don’t understand how anyone can get upset at the fact that it was partially based upon race. I mean, the video isn’t what some may have wanted it to be, but isn’t that the art of it all. Having the freedom to express what your song means to you, in more ways than one. I think i captivated the meaning of it.. No matter what era or time or year we’re in biracial relationships are not always excepted. And as a young black female (as she was in the video) it is hard to bring in a white male and call him your all when its not what those around you are used to. Not to mention him asking was she not good enough.. i think thats where “i was wondering maybe, if i made you my baby..if we do the unthinkable, would it make us look crazy..if you ask me i’m ready” comes in.. put everything we know and everyone else aside and do what we feel is right for us. Come on people.. open your minds and actually learn from what you spend most of your life staring into. As an artist, she has the right to express her work in anyway she may feel. And I think she did a great job doing it.
Reply
August 10th, 2010 at 3:24 am
first of all she is white and black and as a multiracial female I dont really relate to it meaning the feeling behind others looking at you as if your not supposed to be with another person who in this case is completely white. I felt she was trying to express herself and show that even being biracial others of whole races put so much pressure on you to blend with them instead of letting go and allowing you to be an individual, they want to put you in a box. but a person of two or more races doesnt see things the way others do we know what we are and that we are different and should be left alone . we are our own category a beautiful blend of many races and we love what we are.
Reply
August 10th, 2010 at 3:26 am
so in other words leave us to love whomever we want because we have that freedom. and in all, all others no matter their combination or lack of should have the same right.
Reply